Vehicle-signal



F. R. MOORE.

VVEHICLE SIGNAL.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 25, 1915.

F. R. MOORE.

VEHICLE SIGNAL. 37 APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 25. I9I5.

Patented Aug. 22, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

I IIIIIIIIIIHII.

FRED R..1VIORE, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

VEHICLE-SIGNAL.

messes.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Aug", 22, 191i (t.

application inea september 25, i915. serial No. tassa.

driver of such a vehicle may indicate to those behind his future intentions.

The invention consists in the combinations andarrangements of parts hereinafter de-' scribed and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specilication, and in which- Figure 1 is a rear view of a signal embody"- y ing my invention, with 'portions thereof broken awa-y for the sake of clearness, Fig. 2, an enlarged section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1, Fig. 3, an enlarged detailed section of I i and 11 as indicated. Pawls 15 and 16 copthesignal operating mechanism employed in the construction, Fig. 4, an enlarged detailed .view of one of two pulley and ratchet mechanisms employed in the construction, Fig. '5, an enlarged viewof the other pulley and ratchet mechanism, and Fig. 6, a horizontal section through the apparatus illustrating electric circuits employed therein diagrammatically.

The vpreferred form oft construction' as illustrated in the drawings comprises a suitable casing 7 arranged to be secured to the rear of an automobile and provided with an electric motor 8 positioned centrally therein. A shaft 9 on motor' 8 is provided with `three ratchet wheels10, 11 and 12 fixed thereto, and pulleys 13 and 14 are loosely mounted on shaft 9.adjacent ratchets 10 and 11 as indicated. .Pulleys 13 and 14 respectively carry spring held pawls 15 and 16 coperating with the Corresponding ratchet wheels 10 erate with z lrmatures 17 and 18 operable by electro-magnets 19 and 20, the arrangement being such that'upon closing of a circuit through either of said magnets the corresponding pawl will be thrown into operative engagement with the corresponding ratchet thus 'connecting the, corresponding pulley with the motor shaft 9. The frictional engagement between the pawls 15 and 16 and the teeth of the corresponding ratchet wheel is sufficient to maintain such engagement as long as operative tension is maintained between the parts.

Pulley 13 is connected b means of a chain '21 with a pulley 22 fixed 'to a shaft 23 extending across the end -ofcasing 7, said chain 21 being rigidly attached to pulley 13 at the point 24 and to pulley 22 at the point 25 so as to cause rotation of shaft 23 through onehalf a revolution but to prevent further rotation thereof as will be readily understood. A signal arm 26 is fixed to shaft 23 in position tooperate through a slit 27 in the top and end of casing 7, said slit being provided with a felt lining 28 so asto exclude dust .from the. interior of casing 7. IThe signal arm 22 is normally concealed within casing 7 .resting upon a support 29 therein and normally held in such position by means of a spring 22 connectedwith arm 26 as shown. Electric contacts 30 are arrangedV in casing 7 in the path of arm 26 'so as to be enga-ged thereby when said arm is thrown to its extended or operative position, said contacts 30 being connected in circuit with an electric light 31 arranged to illuminatethe arm 26 for use at night, said light being also pro-l vided with' a red glass 31 to operate as a danger signal. By this arrangement it will be observed that with the assistance ofmotor n8 and magnet 18 arm 2G-will bethrown outwardly into exposed position .and held in such position as long as the 'circuit through motor 8 is held closed, said arm returning to initial position upon breaking of the motor circuit.

l Pulley 14 is connected by means of a crossed chain 14 with 'a pulley 32 lixed to a y 'shaft 33 traversing the other end of casing 7,

s'aiduchain 14 being fixed to pulley 32 at point 34 and to ulley 14 at point 36 so as to effect a'Y one-haii) revolution on shaft 32 Aand prevent further revolution thereof. A signal arm 37 is fixed to shaft 33 and is arranged to operate through a slit 38 in the top and end of casing 7 in the same manner as arm 26 operates througlrits slit. One of said ainis is ymarked to indicate an intention of turning to the right and the other marked to indicate an intentionto turn to the left as shown.

' Arm 37 normally rests upon the support 39 in casing 7 and is normally held in retracted position by means of a spring 34 connected with arm 37. Electric contacts 40 are also arranged within the path of arm 37 so as to be closed thereby7 and light 41 which is identical with light 31 is arranged to be operated by closing of said circuit. By`

this arrangement it will be observed that closing of the. motor circuit and the circuit through magnet 20 will effect operation of arm 37 to indicate an intention of turning to the left. Another signal arm 45' is arranged in casing 7 on shaft 9 and carries a spring held pawl 12 coperating with ratchet 12 and operable byineans of electromagnet 45 to connect said arm with said shaft as will be readily understood. The arm 45 normally rests on a., stop 4G and its upward swing is limited by a spring stop 47' which will impart initial downward swinging to signal 45 upon breaking of the cir-- cuit through inotor 8, said downward movement being completed by gravity. The arm l45 is marked to indicate an 'intention to check the vehicle and is designed for use to indicate such intention. l

The operation of arms 26,. 37` and 45 is controlled by three electric push buttons-48, 49 and .50 indicated diagrammatically in Fig. 6 and designed to be arranged adjacent the drivers seat of the automobile. All of thepush buttons are connected by means of a Wire 51a with the positive side of a battery 52 or other source of current, the negative-side of said battery being grounded as indicated. Likewise all of the push buttons 48, 49 and 50 are placed in electrical connection with the motor 8 by means of a wire 53, said motor being grounded through a bell 54 by means of a Wire 54. By this arrangement operation of any one of the push buttons 48, 49 or 50 will supply current to motor 8 and bell 54 operating both. Push button 48 is electrically connected by means Aof a Wire`55 with electromagnet 20 and push buttons 49 and 50 are similarly connected by means of Wires 56 and 57 respectively with electromagnets 45 and 19 so that operi ation of any one of the push buttons 48, 49

or 50 will operate the corresponding signal arm and at the same' time ring the bell 54 and operate the lights 31 and 41 when arms v26 and 37 are operated, thus giving bothvieual and audible signals to persons behind the automobile as to the future intentions of the driver.

lVhile I have illustrated and describedthe preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into eiiect, this is capable of variation and Amodification without departing-,from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but

desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come Within the scope of the appended claims.

l Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: a

- 1. A signal comprising a casing; a motor in said casing provided with a shaft; a ratchet wheel fixed to said shaft; a swinging signal arm in said casing; a spring held pawl in said casing in operative relation with said ratchet and arranged to operatively connect said arm therewith; and electrical means for operating said pawl, substantially as described.

2. A signal comprising a. casing and provided with a shaft; a. ratchet wheel fixed to said shaft; a swinging signal arm in said casing; a spring held pawl. in said casing in operative relation with said ratchet and arranged to operatively connect said arm therewith; and electrical means for simultaneously operating said pawl and closing a circuit through said motor, substantially as described.'

n 3.. A signal comprising a casing; a motor 1n said casing and provided' with a shaft; three lratchet wheels fixed to said shaft; three swinging arms in said casing; spring held paWls in said casing coperating with said ratchets and arranged to operatively connect each of said arms with one of said ratchets; and electrical means for operating said pawls, substantiallyas described.

4. signal comprising a casing; a motor in said casing and provided with a shaft;

t,three ratchet wheels fixed to said shaft;

ratchetwheels fixed to said shaft; three swinging arms in said casing; spring held pawls in .said casing coperating with said ratchet and arranged to connect each of said arms to one of said ratchets; electric .lights arranged to illuminate certam of said arms;

circuits for said lights arranged to be closed In testimony whereof I- have signed my by swinging of the corresponding arms; an name to this specification in the Vpresence of 10 electric bell in circuit'with the motor; electwo subscribing Witnesses. tromagnets arranged to operate said pawls; 5 and means for simultaneously lclosing the FRED R' MOORE' circuit through each cf said electromagnets Vitnesses: and the motor circuit, substantially as .de- JOSHUA R. H. Porrs,

scribed. I CORA F. SCHmER.

Copies of this patent may b e cbtainedlior ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patente,

. Washington, D. C. 

